Now that Zhao Ming's army has not opened its salaries, it is naturally impossible to give preferential treatment to a group of captives to Hongmaoyi.The people who have been running on the sea these days are not honest people.Nowadays, the technological gap between the East and the West is not too big, and Zhao Ming does not expect Hongmaoyi to do any research and development, as long as they can honestly make some flintlock pistols, it will be enough for one or two hundred years.The craftsman is a very hard worker, the daily working hours are long, but the pay is not very high, these Hongmaoyi maritime trade, is to make a lot of money, how can they say a few good words, give food, and then go day and night to engage in heavy manual labor, casting muskets and artillery?
Since good words are useless, Zhao Ming can only use another method, just like these Xiyi, to drive black slaves, natives, and Chinese laborers.Zhao Ming believed that under the threat of death and punishment, these red-haired ghosts would make muskets for him.These people are not cutting-edge talents, and when the craftsmen of Jintang Island learn how to cast, it will be useless.The next day, Zeng Hualong brought a copy of the performance assessment system.Zhao Ming looked at it and handed it to Liu Si, and asked the Zhenfu team to send people to urge the red-haired ghost to cast firearms every day, and invite experienced craftsmen to accept it.Zhao Ming finished instructing Liu Si, and then said to Zeng Hualong: "Craftsman Zeng, you send some craftsmen to follow these Hongmaoyi, and learn the flintlock pistol and the casting of artillery as soon as possible!"
”Zeng Hualong nodded, but reminded: "General, it usually costs six or seven catties of refined iron to build a bird's gun, and the price of iron, plus the price of charcoal, the wages of craftsmen, and other expenses, it will cost at least three to five taels of silver to build a pole."
Nowadays, there is a scarcity of materials, the price of raw materials has risen, and the casting of flintlock pistols is far more complicated than that of bird guns, and it is estimated that it will cost ten to twenty taels of silver to build a single one.I'm afraid the island can't afford such a big consumption!
”Zhao Ming bowed slightly, but Zhao Ming didn't care much about how much silver it cost, he was more concerned about the quality of the firearms.After all, the firearms used by the Ming army were often blown up, and they were not killed by the enemy, but they died in the hands of their own man-made firearms, which caused the Ming soldiers to have a kind of fear when they used firearms, which really affected the combat strength of the army.Zhao Ming said to Zeng Hualong: "How much money it costs, you don't have to worry about this, you will find a way to solve it."
Ben will be concerned about the problem of weapons exploding and worrying about their quality. ”The quality of firearms in the Ming Dynasty not only affected the imperial court, but also shamed them as craftsmen.Zeng Hualong said: "General, the reason why the Daming firearms were damaged was that the government was corrupt and the materials were shoddy, and the second was that the reward and punishment system was deserted.However, the general does not have to worry about the craftsmen on the island, everyone has a common enmity with the Jiannu, and the craftsmen will do their best, as long as the materials on the island are sufficient, they can make excellent firearms. ”Zhao Ming nodded, but said: "In order to resist the Qing Dynasty, everyone is very energetic, which makes Ben Jiang very pleased, but Ben Jiang can't let the craftsman work hard with peace of mind because of this."
In addition to the payment of money and food to craftsmen on time, every month this will reward craftsmen for every qualified firearm, of course, if they are unqualified, they will deduct their wages as punishment, and if they cause casualties, they will be severely punished.I would like you to come up with a code of rewards and punishments, which strictly requires the quality of firearms, and that the firearms made must indicate who made them and register them for inspection. ”Zeng Hualong felt Zhao Ming's attention to firearms, and hurriedly saluted: "Humble and orderly!"
”Zhao Ming immediately waved his hand and asked Zeng Hualong to go back, while he left the room, went to find Chen Mingyu, and continued to inspect Jintang Island.Yesterday, Zhao Ming asked Ma Shiao to release the news that several other rebel armies on the island were close and immediately expressed their willingness to follow, while the rebels on other islands may need a few days before they can react.Walking out of the room, outside Liegang, Guo Zhong and the sailors were taming the Hongmaoyi warship.This ship has been captured for nearly two months, and the sailor gate has been able to drive the ship up and complete many actions relatively skillfully, but it will take a few months, or even a year or two, to exert his combat power.At the foot of Jintang Mountain, more than 2,000 soldiers of the Taiping Battalion, holding weapons for drills, and soldiers holding bamboo spears, stood in several rows in the cold wind, standing solemnly with guns."
Ready!"
Wang Deshun yelled.Nearly a thousand spearmen, together in a lunge, raised their hands sideways, clenched their spears, and made an attacking posture."
Kill!"
Wang Deshun drank again.The neatly arranged spearmen immediately drew their spears in unison, and shouted at the same time: "Kill!"
”The soldier stabbed his spear out, and his movements were swift and whirring.In another place, Li Zhongming led more than 30 soldiers to practice the use of flintlock pistols, and the shooting range was filled with gunsmoke.At this time, Chen Mingyu walked over, and Zhao Ming smiled: "What do you think, sir?"
”Chen Mingyu knew what he said about the Taiping Camp, "The soldiers have hatred in their hearts and murderous spirits in their bodies, and if they continue to train, they will become a division of tigers and wolves." ”Zhao Ming was very satisfied with this evaluation, but said: "It's just that the appearance is a little poor." ”Chen Mingyu said: "There is a batch of cotton cloth on the island, so it is better for me to let people use this batch of cloth to make a dress for the soldiers." ”Zhao Ming raised his eyebrows, he didn't have enough armor and armor, and it was not bad to make a uniform outfit, "Is it too late?"
”Chen Mingyu nodded, "It should be in time, and I will leave it to the women on the island to do, and it will be done soon." ”In December, there was nothing to do, and the small peasant society was self-sufficient, and the women were basically able to make their own clothes and shoes.Zhao Ming paid great attention to the appearance of the army, and said happily: "Okay, then I'll hand it over to Mr." ”Chen Mingyu nodded, turned his head and ordered a few words, and then followed Zhao Ming to continue to inspect the island.The group rode away from the stockade and went to the southern part of the island, a relatively flat area occupied by the rebels who had gone to the island first.Zhao Ming galloped along the road, standing from time to time, looking at the shanties in the wilderness and the surrounding plains."
How many people are there on the island now?"
Zhao Ming galloped to a high slope and reined in the horse's reins.Chen Mingyu said: "It is estimated that there are more than 55,000 people on the island now. ”Zhao Ming's whip pointed at Guangye and asked, "If you plan and manage them, can you still resettle more people?"
”Chen Mingyu groaned: "I once estimated that the available arable land on the island will not exceed 40,000 mu at most.Planting rice, each mu of annual harvest is counted as three stones, a total of only 120,000 stones, the old and weak women and children on the island, even if a year is two stones per person, three stones for Dingkou, four stones for soldiers and sailors, the average conversion is even three stones, a year to more than 165,000 stone of grain, so that there will be no famine.This means that the annual food shortage on the island is about 40,000 stones, and if you add the need to keep seeds and the consumption of livestock, the gap will be even greater. ”Chen Mingyu looked at Zhao Ming and said: "Now the people on the island already need to buy food from outside, and if the people are resettled, the food will be even more scarce." ”Zhao Ming bowed slightly, but still said: "Despite this, I hope that Mr. will still build more houses, I will go straight to the Yangtze River this time, and I will definitely bring some people back." ”More than 50,000 people, many of whom are still as old as women and children, cannot support Zhao Ming's great cause of resisting the Qing Dynasty, and Zhao Ming is ready to move some people over this time.Of course, the island's resources are scarce, and Zhao Ming will not move everyone, mainly to coerce craftsmen, fishermen, sailors, merchants, as well as strong men and their dependents to the island.There are few resources on the island, there are no idlers, everyone must be useful, and they must take the route of elite soldiers.Gaining a foothold on the sea, the most suitable mode for Zhao Ming's survival is the big pirate Wang Zhi, and the Zheng family's model, focusing on maritime trade and plunder, rather than agriculture, unless Zhao Ming recaptures Taiwan one day, he will consider directly relocating a large number of farmers to the island to farm.Zhao Ming looked at the shanty in the distance and continued: "In addition, this time I will take away several other rebel troops on the island, and Mr. will take the opportunity to manage the entire Jintang Island." ”Chen Mingyu nodded, but at this time, Liu Si chased after him on horseback, and shouted from afar: "General, the prince's envoy has arrived!"
”Zhao Ming's heart froze, he separated from Zhu Yihai and returned to Jintang Island, why did Zhu Yihai's envoy follow him immediately?
Could it be that Jiangfang was broken through by the Qing army?
Zhao Ming's expression sank, and he immediately pulled out the reins of the horse, urging the war horse to shout: "Go, go back to the village!"
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